Gender mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction in Zimbabwe: A case study of Oxfam in Zimbabwe in Budiriro Community

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess disaster risk reduction in Zimbabwe from a gender perspective. It looks at whether the reduction, response and relief in Zimbabwe is able to meet the needs of both men and women during disaster situations using a case of Oxfam in Zimbabwe response to Budiriro flash floods. This research was done using primary and secondary sources. The research was largely qualitative in nature using research techniques such as questionnaires, interviews as well as desktop research. Research from Budiriro shows that there is inadequate gender mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction as some of the interventions were not gender sensitive, dissemination of early warnings was mainly “manned” thus gender biased, human settlements, health, water and sanitation affected both men and women but women bearing the brunt of household responsibilities were not also catered for as children and parents are inseparable and mostly mothers, therefore failure by the response and relief to meet some of the needs of the community. The challenges to effective gender mainstreaming include ineffective gender analysis, government facing resource constraints and relying on CSOs of which most of the CSOs are not fully committed to mainstream gender in disaster response and relief. Strategies which can be adopted for effective gender mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction include coordinated efforts and good relations between the government and CSOs, effective gender analysis and tight security to monitor issues of gender based violence as this affect both men and women but at differing levels depending on the level of vulnerability.